Big news in TEXAS this week!

[The Moonshiner]

Problem with HOAs is everyone wants to worry about what's going on next door. When they sign these things they aren't thinking how its going to affect them they're just thinking about how they're going to have it keep the people next door and down the street from doing stuff they don't like or stuff that might lower their property values.
When the time comes that it affects something they want then all of a sudden they don't want to follow the rules.
Too much I want what I want but I also want to control everyone around me too.

 

[Porkchoptx]

any word on it

Sorry, I didn't get a chance to post before now.
First, we have to face reality that this isn't going to happen during this special session. It just ran out of time and they are still arguing over more important things that the governor wants passed and it doesn't look like they are going to get that done either.

Now the good news about that is the governor had threatened to call a 2nd special session if they didn't get things done. If that happens, the governor can add the backyard chicken bill to the list of items he wants addressed.

I called the governor's office on Friday and spoke to a nice lady for quite a while. They do log all the things people contact his office about. I had written a letter a week or 2 ago and when I gave her my name...I was in the system regarding backyard chickens. That was nice to know. What I learned was they do not show him everything and naturally his staff handles all that. BUT......she said if enough people contact them regarding a certain issue then they will present it to him. That being said....if it looks like a 2nd special session will happen " Everybody and their Dog" needs to take a couple of minutes to either write, call or email the governor and ask him to add the bill to the session. In this case, the number of people doing this will get it to his attention. I made her laugh at the end of the call. I asked her to go put a stick note on his desk.

Fingers crossed.....

 

[LinnyChx]

I live in Rockwall County outside the city limits so no one can say boo about my chickens. Most of us aren't giant chicken farms; our girls are more like pets with benefits.

I'm lucky that when my street was built we all had a meeting and decided to get rid of the proposed HoA. I'm especially glad now that I've started keeping chickens. They are delightful, a great stress reliever, good therapy animals and organic pest control. All that and they also make breakfast.

I'm happy to call the Governor and encourage him to add this issue to the special session. I want all my fellow Texans to be able to have backyard chickens!

 

[Porkchoptx]

Awesome. Hope we can find a lot more great Texans like you

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I have emailed, called and sent actual paper letters to all my local and state representatives from the governor down to my city council members over the past couple of months. I also sent a batch of thank you cards (printed out some cute Texas themed ones) with a note inside thanking them for their service AND their attention to this property owner rights issue. Didn't take me long, I simply printed out my list from online and did one or eight as I had the time. Even printed out some mailing labels.

I look at global situation and think we might all be needing gardens and livestock just to feed ourselves soon. I'm going to do something I didn't think I'd do: try to keep a collar on a rooster or two so I can breed my own meat and replacement laying birds. That pretty red EE (presumed) roo might get to stay after all.

 

[Porkchoptx]

I have emailed, called and sent actual paper letters to all my local and state representatives from the governor down to my city council members over the past couple of months. I also sent a batch of thank you cards (printed out some cute Texas themed ones) with a note inside thanking them for their service AND their attention to this property owner rights issue. Didn't take me long, I simply printed out my list from online and did one or eight as I had the time. Even printed out some mailing labels.

I look at global situation and think we might all be needing gardens and livestock just to feed ourselves soon. I'm going to do something I didn't think I'd do: try to keep a collar on a rooster or two so I can breed my own meat and replacement laying birds. That pretty red EE (presumed) roo might get to stay after all.

Fantastic. I sent a thank you card as well with a printed scenery envelope to draw attention. Once I used neon orange paper and wrote with a black sharpie. When I wrote the governor I sent one to the PO Box and another to the street address. I figured different people might receive that mail.
I want this so bad. I already have my coop picked out and my chickens named.

Still a glimmer of hope. But if it wasn't meant to be we can get an early start for the next session and start calling and writing all the senators to ask them to present this bill again. Hopefully one of the senators will do it for us especially if they know it was in the last legislative session. If it can get in early it will pass for sure.

 

[krdavis]

http://www.chron.com/news/politics/...cken-bill-sparks-Foghorn-Leghorn-11058562.php

For us under-the-radar members, we can come out of hiding, sorta.
But, hey, this is a big step in the right direction!


---------------------------------EDIT--------------------------------
IMPORTANT:

This bill will be up for a vote in the Texas House in several weeks. I'd encourage you all to:

A. Find out who represents your county
B. Email and/or call your representatives and encourage them to support this bill. Give testimonials, pictures, and details.

Don't know who represents you? Go here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

I've never really been involved in the political process, but I just emailed all of my representatives. I'm sure many of you, myself included, are sick of feeling like having chickens is something that has to be kept under the rug for fear of being fined by the city. 6 chickens may not be many, but it's a step in the right direction!

I got a call today from our HOA to talk to me about the chickens they've discovered I have. We have nine hens. I knew better before I raised them that I probably shouldn't but after five years I got a little comfortable (really always afraid but FIVE years passed.) I was reminded that poultry was not allowed here in Sienna and to call them back when we were in compliance. I cried all evening. I remembered seeing this a month or so ago but feel uneasy - can you explain? Do I really have a leg to stand on come September 1st with my HOA? This is in Sienna Plantation and I am heartbroken

 

[Porkchoptx]

So sorry...no chickens for anybody who was hoping to get some.
The chicken bill did not pass in the regular session and was not included in the special session.

We will have to try again in January 2019

 

[Kiki]

I got a call today from our HOA to talk to me about the chickens they've discovered I have. We have nine hens. I knew better before I raised them that I probably shouldn't but after five years I got a little comfortable (really always afraid but FIVE years passed.) I was reminded that poultry was not allowed here in Sienna and to call them back when we were in compliance. I cried all evening. I remembered seeing this a month or so ago but feel uneasy - can you explain? Do I really have a leg to stand on come September 1st with my HOA? This is in Sienna Plantation and I am heartbroken

So sorry.
The HOA can not deny "therapy pets"...A note from a doctor stating they are those kind of pets would work....

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I got a call today from our HOA to talk to me about the chickens they've discovered I have. We have nine hens. I knew better before I raised them that I probably shouldn't but after five years I got a little comfortable (really always afraid but FIVE years passed.) I was reminded that poultry was not allowed here in Sienna and to call them back when we were in compliance. I cried all evening. I remembered seeing this a month or so ago but feel uneasy - can you explain? Do I really have a leg to stand on come September 1st with my HOA? This is in Sienna Plantation and I am heartbroken

So sorry.
The HOA can not deny "therapy pets"...A note from a doctor stating they are those kind of pets would work....

I am sorry about your hens. Texas Senate has me frothing at the mouth! As to getting a doctor's note to keep 9 hens as therapy pets, common sense tells me it won't fly. I cant speak to the part about getting a doctor to prescribe your birds as therapy pets. I have zero experience with that. But all nine? Would any physician or therapist be willing to sign off on that? Maybe two or three, since it's really hard to keep just one chicken on its own humanely. A solitary bird isn't happy, and just two encourages one to bully the other. Three is safer, with four being optimum for the smallest possible healthy flock.

Good luck, and I hope you find a way!